a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
any monotonous song.
a song; singing: the chant of a bird.
a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.
verb (used with object)
to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.
to sing.
to celebrate in song.
to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.
verb (used without object)
to sing.
to utter a chant.
Origin of chant
1350–1400; (v.) Middle Englishchanten < Middle Frenchchanter < Latincantāre, frequentative of canere to sing; (noun) < Frenchchant < Latincantus; see canto
Related formschant·a·ble, adjectivechant·ing·ly, adverbhalf-chant·ed, adjectiveun·chant·ed, adjective
late 14c., from Old French chanter "to sing, celebrate" (12c.), from Latin cantare "to sing," originally frequentative of canere "sing" (which it replaced), from PIE root *kan- "to sing" (cf. Greek eikanos "cock," Old English hana "cock," both literally "bird who sings for sunrise;" Old Irish caniaid "sings," Welsh canu "sing"). The frequentative quality of the word was no longer felt in Latin, and by the time French emerged the word had entirely displaced canere. Related: Chanted; chanting.
n.
1670s, from chant (v.), or else from French chant (12c.), from Latin cantus "song, a singing; bird-song," from past participle stem of canere.
